Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-29
The Convict Question,


/ The statement of the Governor of this
State few days ago that there are 900
applications of convicts for pardon await
ing his action, and that he is sat-
istied thaC there are among the
conyicts some who are innocent of the
crimes (which they were convicted, and
others who ought to be pardoned because
their sentences were too severe, is certain
to bring The convict question squarely be-
fore the Legislature at its summer SEES
sion. Indeed, it is difficult TO see how
the Legislature can longer shirk Its duty
with regard TO it.
The 600 applications ought to be con-
sidered without unnecessary delay. If
the State has done any of it's citizens the
wrong of couvicting them of crimes
OF which they are not guilty, it cannot too
quickly repair it to as great an
extent as possible. 1t is clear, however,
that the Governor cannot pass upon these
applications as promptly as they deserve.
He could not examine all of them care
fully before the end OF his term If he
should give his whole time to it.
The Legislature, therefore, as soon as 1t
meets ought to provide for a speedy ex-
animation OF the applications, and then it
ought to set to work to find some way for
taking care of convicts that would give
more satisfaction than the present one.
There is no public question W ith which
Legislatures have to deal that
presents more difficulties than
the one relating to con-
victs. 1t is necessary that convicts shall
be employed for two reasons. First, that
taxpayers may be relieved of the burden
OF maintaining them, and, second, be
cause 1t is brutal to keep them confined
In idleness. But how shall they be en-
ployed? WOrkingmen protest against
being forced to compete with convict
labor. They say that the burden of
maintaining the convicts should not fall
upon them, and it does fall on them, to a
certain extent, when convict labor forces
down the price of their labor.
In New York it was proposed some
time ago that no prison-made articles
should be sold for less than the prices
such articles commanded in the open
market. Ia this way it was thought the
ment of cOnVicts on contract work might
be avoided, but the plan is not satIsfac-
tory.
AT the last session OF the Legislature
Of this State the Governor proposed a
plan for caring for cOnvicts which was
very favorably commented on by the
press, but the Legislature did not find
time to consider it. Probably it will do
so during the approaching summer ses.
sion.
New York, in three of her great prisons,
has now 2,100 convicts idle, and the bur-
den of maintaining them is heavy one.
In all of her prisons and reformatory in
stitutions she had over $4,000 prisoners
last Decembef She 10 beginning to WON
der what she is to do with this growing
army of criminals.
A writer in late issue Of the New York
Herald suggested that the convicts of the
Whole country should be transported to
Alaska. The suggestion is not a new
one. In fact It has been very generally
discussed, and In time it may take much
frmer bold of the public mind than il has
now. 'Tfhtif IL does, however, the ques-
ton, What shall be done with the con-
victs? will continue to force itself upon
public attention.
The Southern States could very advan-
tageously utilize them in making public
improvements of one kind and another.
There is not a county lin this State that
could not well afford to bear the expense
of guarding and maintaining many more
convicts than it sends to the penitentiary
in return for the privilege OF using them
to improve it's roads and drain
its swamps. The benefit that the chain
gang has been to this county Is very great,
and it promises to be still greater. The
county could use large number OF con-
vcts in making public improvements that
would, in few years, make the lands of
the county far more valuable than they
are. When the Legislature takes up the
convict question let it consider the ad-
visibility OF distributing the convicts
among taose counties which desire them.